Dolores Urralburu

Dolores Urralburu, 96, of Montrose, Colorado passed away on July 10, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia with the same joy for life, devotion to God, and love for her family and friends that always showed through the bright smile on her face. Her final wish to be surrounded by love created a beautiful final day when she even glowed as sunset’s rays shone on her peaceful face.

Dolores Garcia was born on May 28, 1929 in Clayton, New Mexico. Dolores always fondly recalled family life there before her parents moved to Montrose in 1937, and she went on to make many more beautiful memories during nearly 90 years in Western Colorado. She is survived by her daughter Ann Margaret Urralburu of McLean, Virginia, her sister Viola (Doug) Short of Craig, Colorado, brother David (Cindy) Garcia of Montrose, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dolores was preceded in death by her husband Benedicto Urralburu, her parents Monico and Rose (Lujan) Garcia, and her brothers Alfred C’ de Baca, Loyd Garcia, Leo Garcia, Pat Garcia, Orlando Garcia, and Billy Garcia.

After graduating in the Montrose County High School Class of 1946 and attending Barnes Business College in Denver, Dolores returned to Montrose to work as a bookkeeper for Hilltop Dairy. She met her future husband, Benedicto—a Basque sheepherder and later miner—in 1956 and they married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in November 1958. They became active as a couple in the Parish during the 1960s and felt strongly that Vatican II was a blessing that opened new opportunities for lay people to take part and minister to one another. Together, Dolores and Ben were part of the Cursillo retreat movement and ministers at many liturgies. As a Benedictine oblate and livelong lover of joyous liturgy, Dolores headed St. Mary’s Liturgy Committee for 10 years, and was a longtime Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and facilitator of the Bread-baking Ministry for each weekend Mass. She served as President of St. Mary’s Parish Council and was the first Hispanic woman to be President of the Council of Catholic Women for the Grand Junction Deanery.

Together over 50 years, Dolores and Ben visited his family in Spain many times, sparking a love of travel and openness to the world that shaped Dolores in countless ways. They fostered that same international love in their daughter, Ann Margaret, who was born in 1974. Dolores often commented on how lucky she felt to have visited so many international wonders, and she kept up that traveling spirit alongside Ann even after Ben’s death in 2007.

Dolores had an undeniable natural connection with young people that she lovingly shared as a caregiver for several nieces and friends’ children, in addition to her beloved daughter. Dolores channeled her gift for working with youth while teaching catechism for more than 20 years at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and she helped the Academic Booster Club honor students across Montrose County schools during the 1980s-90s.

Ever a practical and well-informed citizen, Dolores loved the United States and had a strong sense of civic duty. She was committed to doing her part for the community and served as a Montrose County election judge for 40 years. A member of the Montrose County Republican Women for many decades, Dolores always appreciated when her fellow members praised the time and thoroughness she put into giving reports that were rich in facts and shared topics from across spectrums. Dolores also created the group’s scholarship program, which she saw as encouraging civic mindedness in the next generation.

Family care was always at the center of Dolores’ life, and she was renowned for excellent baking skills, especially bread, and her delicious cooking. She had a green thumb and loved plants, along with being an excellent seamstress. And she never failed to take care of her little girl’s every need, which returned to Dolores with much love throughout her final years.

Dolores and Ann Margaret lived together from 2020 until her passing, splitting time between homes in Colorado and Virginia. Dolores loved to join Ann in most any outing, but her greatest gift in the East was being welcomed into the loving community at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC. A Jesuit parish with a nod to Basque roots—which the Urralburu family always honors too—the parish’s mission to “Accompany one another in Christ; Celebrate God’s Love; and Transform Lives” came to life for Dolores via vibrant liturgies and the loving way fellow parishioners offered her peace and joy. She loved going to Mass each week and looked forward to seeing all those who became beloved friends. And she was called home to Heaven with the words of that Parish Community’s love and prayers paving the way.

Dolores will be celebrated for her final burial with services at St. Mary Catholic Church in Montrose, Colorado. There will be a Vigil of Remembrance at 7pm on August 5, 2025 and a Funeral Mass on August 6, 2025 at 10am. She will be interred at Cedar Creek Cemetery immediately following and then friends and family are invited to a reception at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Dolores’s name to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC, to St. Mary Catholic Church in Montrose, Colorado, or to the American Heart Association.